A study to develop a novel therapeutic/ preventive strategy for oral bacterial infectious diseases based on the obstruction of lipoprotein modification enzymes

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We have been engaged in the work regarding surface lipoprotein on cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans. Until now, we have identified and functional analyzed lipoproteins related to sugar and amino acid uptake. Moreover, these lipoproteins have been clarified to be modified by lipoprotein modification enzymes, prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) and lipoprotein-specific signal peptidase II (LspA), which is very important for the pysiological function of the lipoproteins. In this study, we identified that lipoprotein OpcC was involved in the acid tolerance which is one of cariogenic properties of S. mutans and demonstrated that the lipoprotein OpcC was under the control of Lgt and LspA in the localization and physiological function. Accumulated evidence and this finding strongly suggest that lipoproteins are definitely related to the pathogenic properties of S. mutans. Furthermore, lipoprotein modification enzymes should be attractive targets to develop a new strategy for prevention and therapeutic against dental caries.